Ponte City Apartments
Ponte City Apartments is a cylindrical high-rise with over 50 floors in Johannesburg. The hollow core in the center allows light to reach lower levels and gives apartments windows on both sides.
The building was designed by Mannie Feldman and Rodney Grosskopff in 1975 to attract wealthy white residents. Starting in 2001, the Kempston Group led a major renovation to restore it after years of neglect.
The tower displays a large neon sign for Vodacom at the top, visible across the city at night and originally used to advertise Coca-Cola. Around 3,000 people now live inside, including young professionals, students, and immigrants from African countries like Congo, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.
The tower sits on the Berea ridge with wide views across the city and is visible from many parts of Johannesburg. Security staff are present around the clock and the organization Dlala Nje offers tours to show the history of the building and neighborhood.
The neon sign on the roof is the largest in the southern hemisphere. The open center was once so filled with trash that residents threw garbage down from their floors before it was completely cleared during renovation.
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